Sardinia, Italy: Day 2

 Sardinia, Italy

March 26

We woke up Saturday morning early and had a tough time getting out of bed. I was the first one up, packed and ready so that's saying something...

We went and had breakfast at the hostel. I drank coffee, which is seriously rare and I will never again drink so much coffee in my life (and by so much I mean the 3 cups I had all weekend). Lesson learned: I am just not the coffee type.

We had one last morning walk around Cagliari, bought some post cards and took a few pictures.

{In the streets of Cagliari with the port in the background}

{International morning papers}

{with the port as background}

 Then we hopped in the rental, a Ford, and hit the road for Sassari with Italian radio at high volume. Just listening to the DJ's on the radio was fantastic. I didn't understand most of what they were saying but they sound so musical, like they are singing the entire time and they are just talking. I loved it. It's amazing how even though I didn't understand I couldn't help but smile to the sounds of their voices.

{the rental.}

{main street by the port}

{cruisin' baby}

 As we absolutely took the scenic route and drove along the coast. The first real beach we saw we pulled the car over and got out.

{absolutely gorgeous}

{little pueblo on the beach}

 Once we got out we walked through the little village/pueblo to the beach. There was a path that we had to walk through to get up to the top of the hill overlooking the beach. We had to walk through flowers that had bees swarming, seriously, swarming everywhere. I was so freaked out. All I could think of was the movie "My girl" and how at any second I was just going to be attacked by 500 bees, and I'm not even allergic. But the view was definitely worth it.

{ahhh the ocean}

{descent back through the bees}

 Once we got back down and I made it through alive, we went onto the beach. I brought my bikini with me and changed behind some rocks so no one would see, even though we had the beach all to ourselves. It was fantastic, literally no one else in sight. I waded in the water up to my waist, laid on the rocks and walked a little further down. I cannot even explain how happy I feel when I am on a beach...it is when I feel the most peace, the most at ease with everything that's happening around me... the most me.

{our own private beach}

{the water. so clear}

After our pit stop on the beach for a few hours, we headed to another small pueblo to eat lunch. At first I couldn't leave the beach and was really disappointed. But once we started walking around the pueblo, I almost forgot about the beach. I have never seen so many colorful houses in my life. I have never seen so many colors on one street. One house next to the other was a different color... pink, light blue, yellow, purple... it literally looked like a town straight out of a movie. There were uneven cobble street, vespas on every corner, small crooked alleys with doors that were different sizes, patterns and textures, balconies with spring flowers hanging over the rails... it was everything I would imagine a small Italian town to be... and more...

{palm trees on the river}

 

{the streets}

{chocolate gelato}

{some vespa action}

{more and more colors}

 After our pit stop for lunch ( I had a sandwich with prosciutto, italian ham, and cheese), we drove up the coast and stoppped in another town in Sardinia, Alghero. It is right on the ocean, has a port and an old town. We walked around. I had another gelato because they looked too good not too... this time mango from a shop that make's them fresh everyday. We parked ourselves on the river walk just in time for sunset... my favorite part of the day.

{port}

{harbor at dusk}

{and I thought Spain had a lot of motorbikes...}

{beginning on the sunset}

{breathtaking}

 After the sunset, we got back in the car and headed to Sassari, our final destination for the trip. We got in, found the hotel after driving around in circles for nearly a half hour... and of course, found a restaurant to eat. The owner was so cute. He was so excited to practice his languages...Spanish and English with me. He had been in Florida in the U.S. and was so so excited to tell me all about it. We tried a different Italian wine and ate, like always, way too much food.

{typical bread found in Sardinia}

{homemade pasta with shrimp, heads and all}

{with Bea after a long day of sightseeing}

{and with Carolina}

 We headed back to the hotel again around 1 and went to bed because we had to get up even earlier on Sunday to head back to Cagliari where the airport is. 

ciao,

jaclyn